In March 2025, while getting a CT scan for a kidney stone, techs spotted a nodule on Brittany’s upper left lung. Unsure of what that meant, she immediately consulted her primary care physician who suggested a more advanced CT scan and sent her to a pulmonologist. “I was low risk. I had no family history of lung disease, was a non-smoker and was only 39, so the pulmonologist thought it was very unlikely I had cancer,” Brittany said.
Deciding to err on the side of caution, she scheduled an appointment for a biopsy. Because the spot was so small, radiology reluctantly agreed to the procedure and was surprised when the biopsy confirmed she had an adenocarcinoma. “It came 100% out of nowhere,” Brittany said. “If I had not had a CT scan for the kidney stone, it would not have been caught because I had no symptoms at all. It was a huge surprise, for me and my doctors.”
Brittany was shocked, heartbroken and scared. She met with a thoracic surgeon who explained that because they caught it so early, her odds of a favorable prognosis were good. She had a minimally invasive lingulectomy, a procedure that removed a wedge-shaped portion of her left lung. Since this was Brittany’s first surgery ever, her family came to support her and ease her nerves. “My sister stayed with me, and we tried to make light of things,” she said.
Because of her youth, Brittany was up and walking the very next morning. Her doctors began respiratory therapy to strengthen her lung function, and only three days later, she was able to return home to continue her recovery. Her doctors were very pleased with how the surgery went, and because the surrounding lymph nodes were clear and the margins were good, Brittany was able to completely avoid further treatment. To make sure nothing reappeared, Brittany continued to have three-month scans, but her lungs have looked clear for the last year which means she can graduate to six-month scans.
Thanks to Brittany and her healthcare providers’ determination, only 31 days elapsed between her diagnosis and surgery. “It moved very quickly because I pushed but also because my doctors really advocated for me.”
Finding Her Lung-Sister
One night after getting diagnosed but before her doctors had confirmed how much the cancer had spread and what treatment she would need, Brittany found herself unable to sleep. “Your mind is spiraling and thinking about all the possible horrible scenarios. Those few days, while I waited to see if it had spread, was a very hard time.”
She found herself doing deep dives on the internet for other people whose story sounded like hers. “Anything that would give me hope and make me believe I had a chance,” she explained. She came across Cindy’s story and was blown away by the similarities. Brittany decided to Facebook message Cindy to let her know how much the story touched her. Cindy got back to her quickly and asked to talk. “We clicked right away. It was like we had been friends forever,” Brittany said. Cindy became a person for Brittany to lean on who understood the challenges of being diagnosed with lung cancer, going through recovery and living as a survivor.
“She is my full left lung, and I am her full right lung. So together we make a full set,” Brittany joked.
Moving Forward with Hope and Gratitude
Now on the other side, Brittany has made it her mission to spread the word about lung cancer and offer help to patients like her. “It is alarming at the increasing numbers of young, nonsmoking women in particular who are getting diagnosed with this, and often at later stages or through incidental findings,” she said.
Brittany was given the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. for LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day. Though she was nervous, she found it informative and empowering. There, she spoke with representatives, shared her story and connected with other LUNG FORCE Heroes. “Every cancer story matters. I know that it can be scary for people to share their journey, but for me, advocating for lung cancer has brought me joy that I feared cancer would take away from me,” Brittany said.
Additionally, Brittany has learned there are so many different ways to show strength. She hopes her story can help others find their community and hold on to hope. “I've learned that no one survives alone. Behind survivorship is the community that got us there; the healthcare workers, the researchers, the support groups, family members,” she said. “It can feel isolating sometimes, and so you just have to remind yourself that you aren't alone. People have survived and you just have to hang on to hope.”
Blog last updated: June 10, 2026
